observed at Edmhurgh, I6th January 1827. 347 



in a pyramidal form, provided the light were sufficiently broad 

 and extensive ; and that these shadows would appear on the 

 verge of the screen of dark cloud, provided that it, the detached 

 clouds, and the aurora lights, were upon the same plane, and 

 within certain distances of each other. It remains to account for 

 the irregular and sometimes huddling motion of the dark rays, 

 at times stationary. But this exactly corresponds to the lights 

 proceeding from an aurora in full play ; and particularly it cor- 

 responds with what has been termed a luminous undulation in 

 extended lines of aurora. 



That aurora was accompanied with a luminous arch of great 

 apparent altitude passing through the zenith, stationary nearly 

 two hours, and gradually disappearing with the aurora. It had 

 none of that effulgence which the aurora often exhibits ; but a 

 soft whiteness, resembling the appearance of some kinds of cloud, 

 a feature common to similar arches. Towards the close, it ap- 

 peared to be broken into fasciculi, which traversed it at acute 

 angles, and which were not strongly defined. Similar arches 

 have been observed in different places, at the same instant, ap- 

 pearing in the zenith of each, and apparently much more ele- 

 vated than the more fixed portions of any aurora. Are they to 

 be viewed as the reflexion of the light of those auroras with 

 which they are accompanied, proceeding from a thin stratum of 

 cloudy tissue ? 



Overland Arctic Expediticm. 



▼ V E have learned, with much satisfaction, that dispatches 

 have reached his Majesty's government from Captain Franklin, 

 announcing the safe return of the expedition, commanded by 

 that able and enterprising officer, to the winter quarters at Bear 

 Lake, after exploring the coast of the Arctic Sea to the extent 

 of thirty-six degrees of longitude. 



The expedition, consisting of Captain Franklin, Lieutenant 

 Bach, Dr Richardson, and Mr Kendall^ with twenty-four men, 

 (of whom twenty were British, two Canadians, and two Esqui- 

 maux), left Bear Lake towards the end of June 1826, in four 

 small row-boats, and descended the Mackenzie in company un- 

 til the 3d of July, when Captain Franklin detached Dr Richard- 



